CHAMPAIGN – Police in Champaign County are teaming up to recruit more female officers for the county’s law enforcement agencies.

Everyone is encouraged to attend a career fair on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parkland College Student Union Building. Women who are employed as police officers and deputies in Champaign County will be present to answer questions about employment opportunities, give demonstrations and talk about a career in law enforcement.

Kid-friendly activities will be available during the career fair, and K-9 units from the Champaign Police Department and Champaign County Sheriff’s Office will make special appearances.

This is the second year that police in Champaign County have organized the Women in Law Enforcement career fair and they hope to continue it into the future.

Policing remains a male-dominated career throughout the nation, and Champaign County is no exception. The county’s law enforcement agencies recognize that it is important to recruit police officers who are representative of the community they serve, and they hope the career fair is a good step in that direction.

“We have exceptional female police officers in Champaign County who have made incredible contributions to the local law enforcement community, and we want that to continue,” said Urbana Police Deputy Chief Sylvia Morgan. “We know there are more women out there who are interested in a career in law enforcement but maybe don’t know where to start. We’re hoping this will be a catalyst for another group of exceptional officers.”

The career fair is hosted by the Champaign Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Parkland College Police, University of Illinois Police Department and the Urbana Police Department. Other police agencies and first-responder agencies will also be present.